Combined shipping and dispensing package



1. Q. STEPHENS. COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPENSING PACKAGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 23, I920.

Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

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JAY Q. STEPHENS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINED SHIPPING AND DISPENSING PACKAGE.

Original application filed November 28 1919, Serial No. 340,988. Divided and this application filed November 23, 1920. Serial No. 426,004.

vice for packing, shipping and dispensing cup-like articles, suchas ice cream cones, cup pastry, etc., by the use of which the articles may be kept free from the necessity of handling the same from the time they are placed in the container until they are to be used, thus ensuring that the articles will be delivered from the original package in a clean and sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may be shipped from its place of manufacture to the place where the contents are supplied in a flat folded state, thereby reducing shipping charges and enabling the manufacturer of the cones or cup pastry to sell the same cheaper than would be the case were the cost of the tubes or packages and freight charges thereon higher as they would be were the tubes not capable of being shipped fiat.

In its more specific nature, the present invention resides in providing a square tube with ends closable by flaps and provided intermediate the ends with inwardly bent resilient fingers vor tongs to grip the contents with suflicient strength to retain the same against accidental discharge but not firmly enough to prevent the articles from being withdrawn, one at a time bythe user. the tubes beingadapted to be folded flat for shipment when empty.

In so far as this application contains matter divided out of my copending application, Serial No. 340,988, filed November 98, 1919, the same is a division thereof.

The invention also resides in those ffove. details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described, then be -'specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of atube. embodying the invention. I

F1gure 2 is a vertical longitudinal seetion of a portion of a tube showing the contents in place before the lower end of the tube is opened to dispense the same.

Figure 3 is a cross section, the contents being removed.

Figure is a cross section similar to Figure 30f a modification. In the drawing, 1 is the tubular container which is of angular, form in cross section (preferably square) so that when the end closure flaps 5 are opened out the tube 1' may be folded flat for shipment.

The tube 1, at a predetermined distance above its bottom end, has tongs or fingers 2 stamped out to leave openings 4. The

tongs 2 may be of one piece, (Figures 13) or 1n several sections (Figure 4) as found most desirable. The edge 3 of each tong is out curved to conform substantially to the curvature of the cone or other article where the tong abuts the. article in the holding. position so that the edges 3 of all of the tongs form a circle (see Figure 3) in top plan, thus giving sufiicient gripping engagement with the articles to retain them in the tube until they are pulled out. one by one, through the bottom of the tube.-

In practice. the tube may be made of straw board, heavy paper or other suitable material, and in order to give added resiliency to the tongs 2 they may be treated with shellac or a solution of silicate of soda. or other suitable composition. In using the tube as a dispensingtube it may be placed tages thereof will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is: A combined shipping, packing and dis- 5 pensing device consisting of atubular container having a set of vertical slits and a cross slit connecting the tops of the vertical slits, thereby constituting tongs, said tongs being bent inwardly and downwardly tents against gravity discharge through the bottom of the container.

JAY Q. STEPHENS. 

